Portable elevatory platform unit



oct 2l, 1952 c. D. GARLINGER ET AL. 2,614,300

PORTABLE ELEVATORY PLATFORM UNIT I Filed Aug. 5, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet Vl l f di W f if @I Se s; 1': '3 1*' Il b., B] Ti e o sbl' i FO i i o o \'tg o r W l: d S

m W v l 9 @5 :swg '.2

rr) l" O u L n \d' omm n C.D.GARLINGER R.E.FULLER gmwtwo fat/aman q' @5% Qct- 21, 1952 c. D. GARLINGER ETAL 2,514,300

PORTABLE ELEVATORY PLATFORM UNIT Filed Aug. 5, 1947' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. D. GARLIN GER R. E. FULLER jm. CM;

www;

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 PORTABLE ELEvAroRY PLATFORM UNIT Charles D. Garlinger and Roger Fuller,

Houston, Tex. i

Application August 5, 1947, Serial No. 766,243

This invention relates to a portable elevatory platform unit of substantial size for use in connection with construction and other operations such as the drilling of oil wells and the like.

An object of this invention isto provide a unit comprising a platform and an accurately controlled elevator in which the elevator consists of fluid operated jacks andv in whicheach jack consists of a plurality of concentric pistons.

A further object of this invention is to provide an elevatory platform unit which is skid mounted and which is further adapted for portability by Vhaving the elevator operating iluid contained in a closed circuit integral with the unit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an elevatory platform unit which permits the platform to be elevated-to and rigidly xed in a multiplicity of level positions.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain `novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts which can manifestly be changed and combined in different ways within the scope and purpose of this invention.

Other objects and advantages lof this inven tion will be apparent from the following description as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the platform in raised position. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the platform in lowered position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the platform with `a part thereof cut away to more` plainly show the skid and the iluid circuit mounted thereon.

Fig. 4 is an end elevationtaken along line 4-4 of i Figure l, showing theplatform in raised position. i i i i l Fig. 5 is a sectionalelevation of one of the jacks.

The base of the unit consists of a skidiI which comprises two longitudinally extending I-,beams 2 which are transversely `tied together by channels or suitable structural elements 3. At each of the four corners of the skid thus formed; and on opposite sides of the I-beam webs from the transverse members 3, gusset plates 4 are welded between the I-beam webs and the outer parts of the upper and lower flanges thereof.

In the form of the invention disclosed. one jack 5 is shown provided at each of thev four corners of the skid. yEach jack consists `of a cylinder member 6 which contains concentrically therein three pistons 'I, 8, ,9,l respectively. y The cylinders 6 have base plates Ill/having an upper, ex,- ternally threaded section II and a lower base '4 claims. (o1. 254.-2)

flange I2. The jacks are aixed tothe skid I by means of bolts I3 `passed through the nanges I2 of the cylinders 61 and the upperilanges of the I-beams 2. The tubular member I4 of each cylinder B has an internally threaded section I5 atthe lower end thereof to be threaded over the threaded section II, of the base plate I Il. rl'he upper endk of the tubular member i4 has an inwardly formed flange I6 which has an angular groove II therein to receive seal I8.

The pistons 1, 8, and 9 have base plates 26, 24, and 26, respectively, each of` which has an externally threaded upper section 2l and each also has a plurality `of circumferentially spaced centering and stop lugs I9 on the lower base plate periphery to concentrically space the base plates within the tubular members of the next encompassing element. The tubular members 22, 25, and 2l of the pistons 1, 8, and 9, respectively have internally threaded lower end sections 34 to be threaded over theexternally threaded sections 2l of their respective base plates. The upper ends ofthe tubular elements 22 and 25 have internal anges I6, grooves I'I, and seals lll of similar construction to those described for tubular member I4. The upper lend of tubular member 21 terminates in an internally threaded section 28. The upper endV ofipiston `ll is closed by a cap 29 which has an externally threaded section 3U to be threaded into sectionzZB of the tubular member 2l', and the cap terminates upwardly in a section 3l of substantially spherical contour. I

The base of the platform 32 consists of tw longitudinally extending I-beams 33 transversely tiedtogether at either end and near the mldsec tions thereof by channelsor suitable structural members 34. `lhe'I-beams 33 are further tied to.- gether by three transverse I-beams 36 welded to the top flanges thereof at points substantially directly above the channels 34. Three gusset plates 35 are also provided on each I-beam 33, being welded between the I-beam webs and the outer parts of the upper and lower flanges thereof at points substantially opposite the channels 34.` The rectangular platform iioor 3l is mounted on top of the I-,beams 36, and extends over the area outlined by the platform base. Angles 54 are welded beneath Vthe floor `3'! for purposes of strengthening and bracing.

Four flange members 38`are mounted beneath the platform I-beams 33 `at eachcorner. These anges have lower portions 39 dished to spherical contour to receive the sections 3I of the pistons t;

i The unit is cross-bracedby six inter-telescop- I ing" pipe members 63 which extend diagonally from the platform base I-beams 3'3 to the skid I-beams 2. In all members 93 the larger pipe 65 is the upper element and the smaller pipe 94 is the lower element. There is one crossbrace at either end and in these members the larger pipe 65 is pivotally mounted to plate 66 which is welded to the under side of I-beam 33 and the smaller pipe 64 is pivotally mounted on the plate 91 which is welded to the of I-beai 2. There are two longitudinally bracing members 63 on either side pivotally connected at the top to plates 68 which plates are welded to the sides of the flanges" of the Ieb'eams 33. At the bottom, these longitudinal bracing members B3 are pivotally connected toplate" {59} whichis welded to the sides of the flanges of the I-beam 2 -at a point substantially near the mid-section thereof. The larger pipes y65 have a slot in their lower ends so that they' mayr be tightened to bind the smaller inter-telescoping pipes 64 by setting up on the clamps 1I.

The platform unit also has six vertical supports 16 each` consisting of an outwardly facing channel 14 pivotally mounted at the bottoml to a bracket welded to the top of ebeamv 2, and an inwardly facing? channel 12 pivotally mount; ed at the top to bracket 13 which is welded to the lower flange of I-beam 33. One trans-V versely extending bracing angle 82 interconnects each lower outwardly facing `charxh'el 14 onone` side of the unit to the channel 14 onA the DDO- site side of the unit, and two' transversely ex-` tending bracing angles 83 correspondingly inL terconnect eachA pair of upper inwardly facing channels 12. The channelsA 12 and 14 are ofv a length to overlap each other centrally of their combined vertical height. Each lower channel 14 has an upper hole' 89 and a lower holel 8l located in its upper end along its longitudinal axis,- and each upper channel 12 has aV plurality of holes 19 in its lower end alongl itslongi tudinal axis to align with the holes 8l)k and 8I.

The jacks 5 are hydraulically operated and the container or fluid tank 4I of theenclosed fluid system 49 is mounted on-two transversely exe tending inverted channels 42 located substane tially near the mid-'sections of I-'beams 2. A motor 43 is mounted on top 4of the tank 4I to drive the pump 44. The pump discharges through T 4S, pipe 41, and T 48, to longitudi nally extending line 49 and thence through Ts 59 at either end of the line 49, to transverse lines 5I. These transverse lines 5I terminate at either end in the jacks 5 at each corner of the skid. Two valves 52 are located in each transverse line 5I on either side of the Ts 5U The enclosed iiuid system 4I! is interconnected with each jack through a threaded section 55 in the periphery of the base plate I9. Radially extending passages 53V Lconnect each section 55 with the central borel 51 in the upper part of the base plate I0. The base plates 20 and 24 have therethrough central bores 59 and 6I re spectively, of such diameter that the area of bore 6I is greaterhthanthe difference between the area of bore 59 and the area of the bore l6I.

In operation the desired platform elevation is predetermined and bolts 11 are inserted through the upper holes inkl'owerchann'ls 14 and through those holes 19 of the upper channels 12 whichwill permit the platform vto be raised to this desired predetermined elevation. The valves 52 are then opened and the pump 44 is started and Vtakes Ythe ii'liii 4vfrin the` 4 charges it through the closed circuit 49 to the jacks 5.

In lowered position the base plates 20, 24, and 2G of the pistons 1, 8, and 9, respectively, rest on the base plates of the next telescoping element exterior thereof. The fluid enters each jack through passage 53 and bore 51 in base plate I9 and passes upward through bores 59 and 6I to exert upward pressuresuccessively against the bottoms of base plates 25, 24, and 20.

After iiuid flows into the jacks 5 through the passages 53', it operates as follows: It first moves piston 9 upwardly until lug I9 thereon engages flange I6 on piston 8. Piston 8 is then moved upwardly bythe ii'uid pressure until lug I 9 thereon engages flange I6 on piston 1. Then the fluid pressure acts to move piston 1 up until lug I9 thereon engages flange I 6 on the cylinder 5. This sequence of operation is obvious from the sizes ofthe base plates 26, 24, and 2B, from the bores 59 and EI, respectively, in the base plates 24 and 29, and from the diameter of the inside 62 of the piston 8.

When the lugs I9 contact the flange I6 of the lcylinder 6,- or' when the Ichannels 12 and 14 are in substantially vertical alignment, the bolts 11 may be inserted in the holes 19 'and 89 to stop further upward motion and to put the platform in condition.' to transfer thev load therefrom off of the jacks 5, to be supported by the supports 16.

It is a feature of theconstruction of the jack mechanism that a degree of dampening' control is permitted since as the piston 8 moves upwardly to top position the liquid between the base plate 26 and the .annular top surface of the base plate 24 is squeezed out therefrom toward the center ofthe jack, with the result that the upward movement of the piston 8 undergoes an eX- te'rit of cushioning. This same effect is obtained as the piston 1 moves upwardly to force the liquid out of the space between the base plate 24 and the annular top surface of the base plate' 20 as the piston 1 approaches topV position. It is obvious that this feature of construction of the jack permits a iine degree of control of the m02- tion of the pistons 1 and 8 as the load of the. platform is raised to its uppermost position.`

With thel platform at desired elevation lower bolts 1B are inserted through the lower holes 8l in the channels 14 yand through corresponding holes 19 in the channels 12. The clamps-1I are then tightened about the slotted sections 10 .of pipes 65 to bind the two inter-teles-coping pipes 65 and 64 rigidly together thereby giving effectiveness to the lcross-braces.

Although the interetelescoping piston structure of the jacks hereinbefore discussed provides a very positive means of moving the corresponding pistons of each jack upwardly at thesame rate of speed so that the sections 3| of each jack are constantly at practically the saineheight duringV upward travel, a further compen sation is necessary to providefor the unanticipated occurrence of more binding or lagging bei tween the elements of one jack than occurs be-` tween the 'elements lof the other jacks, or to compensate for any' excess platform load placed over any one jack. This additional compensation is provided for by manually operating the valves52 when the platform begins to reach the desired elevation vso that greater fluid pressure is maintained on any jack which may be laggingv in 'upward trave`l1,-or by leaving the fluidpres'` sll o` 'such 'lagging jack to bring it to desired elevation after the uid pressure has `beentaken off the jacks' which have reached the desired elevation. VIn thisflmanner the platform may finally be brought to' a levelposition in the desired horizontal plane `so that the lower bolts 18 may be inserted in the holes 19 and 8i to give rigidity to the vertical supports 16. The spherical contours of the cap sections 3| and the ange portions 39A maintain asliding ball andsocket contact and serve as afurther compensating factor during upward travel. 1

i When the lowerbolts 18 have been inserted and the clamps. 1I have been tightened the pump 44 may betshut'dowm, :zWhen this occurs the weight of the platform forces some of the` fluid back into the tank 4I; and the platform settles on the supports 16 which now carry its load. At this point the valves 52 vmay be closed so that the jacksbelowthe basewplates 26 of the pistons 9 remain full of fluid. l

When it isi desiredto` :lower the `platform the clampsll are loosened, thelower bolts 18 are removed, and the valves 52 are vopened .but the pump 44 remains shut down. The` `weight of the platform then forces all of the fluid out of the jacks 5 and back through the closed circuit `4|), the pipe 41, the T 46, and down through a nipple 55'into the tank or container 4I. In thismanner `the fluid, as it is forced back intothecontainer, `acts as a bufferxin lowering the-platform and any load that may be thereon, without the mechanical changes, substitutions and adapta-` tions within the scope ofthe 4invention as4 comprehended by the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is: i. 1 1

l. With an` elevatory platform including a portable frame andy a platform member adapted to-be elevated above said portable frame, jacks under at least each corner of said platform member, each jackcomprising. a cylinder having abase and a set of concentric pistons therein, a base plate for eachv piston, the baseplate of the innermost piston being solid and being adapted to seat on the base plate of thesurrounding piston, the base plate of the outermost piston being adapted to seat .i on the-cylinder base, the successive' base plates outwardly from the innermost base plate having concentric and successively larger 4bores therethrough, said cylinder shock of a rapid descent. It isapparent thatv this unit also` admits the jacks being placed under such pressure, before the valves 52 are closed, that they may help the vertical supports 16 carry the load. If desirable, it is also possible to reverse the pump 44, after the 'platform load is being carried by supports 16, and return all of the fluid to the tank 4l to remain until such time as it may be desired to lower the platform.

It can be seen that a unit of this character has many adaptationsA as a combination platform and elevator for outdoor or fleld `construction and other operations such as the drilling of oil wells where it is necessary4 to raise or lower heavy loads to and from substantial elevations. As it is usually necessary to unload equipment and materials from the levels of motor vehicle beds,

the unit can be designed so that when in its lowest position the platform 32 is at a level to conveniently receive materials from such vehicles.

The platform unit may also be used as a jack to raise one or more legs of an oil derrick which may have settled. In such case an end of the unit is placed under a side of the drilling platform and fluid pressure is admitted to that jack or to those jacks which must be actuated to elevate as required. It is also possible to remove the platform 32 entirely so as to use a single jack for elevating.

As the unit is skid mounted it can be attached behind a motor vehicle, or it can be loaded on a truck bed and moved from one location to another.

It is to` be understood that references in the specification and claims to positions and directions such as upper and lower, "upward and downwardf above and below apply to the device as illustrated in the drawings wherein the upper portion of the device is shown as uppermost. It is obvious that mechanical changes may be made in the structure, and equivalents may be substituted for the parts shown and we reserve the right to make such bases being rigidly mounted on said frame, a ball and socket connection between `the top of each innermost piston and said platform member, aA

closed Huid circuit mounted on said frame to communicate with saidfcylinder bases and `said pistons Vexterior of said innermost piston, a reversiblerdirection pump for pumping iluid into and out of said jacks, valves in said circuit for controlling the admission of uid to each jack, a fluid'tank in said circuit, by-pass means connected to the dischargesof said pump so that with said valves open and said pump shut down, the descending platform weight will force said iiuid from said jacks into saidV tank, upright supports for said platform member adjacent said jacks, each support including, an upper support section pivotally mounted at its upper end to said platform member, a lower support member pivotally mounted at its lower end to said portable frame, means pivotally connecting the other ends of said support sections, and additional means to connect the other ends of said support sections to form a substantially rigid upright support of said sections when said platform member is elevated, and diagonally extending pairs of intertelescoping brace members between said uprights, the uppermost member being pivotally connected to said platform member proximate one upright `and the lowermost member being pivotally connected to said frame proximate an adjacent upright, and connection means for each pairof brace members to connect said pair of brace members together.

2. With an elevatory platform including a portable frame and a platform member adapted to be elevated above said portable frame, jacks under at least each corner of said platform member, each jack comprising, a cylinder having a base and a piston means therein, said cylinder bases being rigidly mounted on said frame, a ball and socket connection between the top of said piston means and said platform member, and means on said frame to supply fluid to, and to withdraw huid from each jack cylinder individually to individually operate said piston means, upright supports `for said platform member adjacent said jacks member, each support including, an upper support section pivotally mounted pairs luf lfnteretelescepine biieoerimembensl'ithe uppermost `niaember being pinarally foomrectee to said platform .lmember' Aprcmirriate xine upright and the lowermost member being ipimtaillyreqnneciiedito :sad 4infime1pro-xinziete .an .a'djaeent 11D- right;V mrd- ;oonnectinn mea-ns fior. ea'eh :1261111 0f brace members to `connect :said pair sei braqe members together. n Y

.'Withan seleyatory platform ineluding @a portble iframe and La fplatfnrm member adallied to rbezeleva'ied kevbovse said portable iframe, lacks under/'at lea'steaehly corner :of: seiidpfplatforfmrmember, 'ea'c'h leek-/eompising` .a ,feyinder having 5d. baseren-d a :piston ameens Ltherein, said cyinlzerl basesf'ibeing `.rigidly :mounted fon :said if;1=eme, za` ball hand :socket connection v:between `:the A'iffclp :pf said :piston Ameafns :and said platform :.merrx'ber,` anf'clmeanston sadaframezto supply uidstmend to twithzirervv uid from reach 'aek .cylinder iindrv'iduetlly to -pindivdually "operate isaid inist-on means :and upright supports for :said Yplattform member :adjacent saidpjfacks. reach support-rincluding. an -upper .support :section ipivotally mounte'datts Iupperendztossa-id platformz-member;y a =zlower support @member ipivot'ally `mounted at its 'slower fendfto maid portable iframe, `.lineales pivtally f connecting @the otherzends of said zsu-p.- port sections, .fand sadlitional =means #zo fcormect thefotherfzend's oflsaid:supportuseotins to form-.a substantial-1y nr-i'gid uprght support .of said sec tions ``)when ,fsad i-pletform 'member 51's :elevated 14.' Withfan e1evatoryfplatformfincuing#afpor'table frame 'andi-a platform member adapted to be rvelevated,ebow/'e saidV portab-le frame, jacks underlajtleest weh-corner ofrselid}platformmembeit, 35

each fjalok rcempniemege @vlieger meins @betie herein sed Wilmer Number Name Bate 'llf43038 `l4EttsV June m.' :A1886 150535,92'6` 'Powell =;May 5v, :1914 v 1452300 Lightner Apr. L7. 1923 13525;4'457 Hose deb 10,; :1f-925 1357;2585'6 Watson Let al.. -;Feb-fj9n1926 AL2f,250g321 l. Aron' J yjuly 22, 1:9411 12,369,838 Mnnis iFebJQO, 1955 ,2453813664 Y Hansen -A1Ig.7 19.45 

